Social media software company Huzutech has announced that it is working with videogames pioneer Dave Jones, the man behind the best-selling Lemmings, Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown games, as well as the ambitious online title APB.

Jones is working with Huzutech as an advisor, to explore the new opportunities, possibilities and markets being created by the growth in online, social and massively-multiplayer gaming, across all new platforms, devices and technologies.

A legend within the games industry, Jones founded the infamous DMA Design studio, in Dundee, Scotland in the 1980s. The company was responsible for the creation of Lemmings, one of the world's first global hits, reaching dozens of different home computer systems, consoles and games platforms. He followed this success with the creation of the now notorious Grand Theft Auto series which to date, has sold over 100,000,000 copies worldwide. After DMA Design was acquired by Take Two Interactive, the serial entertainment entrepreneur founded Realtime Worlds, which went on to create the BAFTA-winning Crackdown title for Microsoft's Xbox 360 as well as APB, the ambitious new multiplayer online game.

Huzutech is the creator of the virtual world platform, HuzuVirtual. The platform enables companies, brand owners and agencies to create wholly customised online social environments and virtual worlds in which multiple users can interact, communicate, socialise - and play.

Graeme Harvey, the managing director of Huzutech, welcomed Jones on board: "Dave's reputation as a pioneer and guru within the games world is unparalleled. His background contains so many highly regarded, critically acclaimed and best-selling games, all of which have achieved worldwide success. Now, as the concept of online gaming and virtual worlds continues to evolve and reach ever wider audiences, his insight, experience and creativity will provide HuzuTech with a very valuable - and unique - resource.

"The boundaries between the diverse areas of social networks, virtual environments, online games and community are blurring as technology advances and as ever more people start interacting online in new ways. Working with Dave will ensure Huzutech's insight into the online and gaming aspects of the market remain at the cutting edge, as the market continues to grow ever more diverse. We're delighted to have him on board and look forward to working with him at a very exciting point in the ongoing evolution of online and virtual worlds."

Dave Jones added: "The incredible growth in gaming over the last several years, across platforms as diverse as smartphones, social networks, web browsers and tablets, combined with the evolution of online communities and massively multiplayer games, is creating entirely new forms of interaction and participation. The opportunities for a company like Huzutech - which understands the community and social networking aspects, which has created a virtual world technology and the tools to integrate it and bring it to a global audience - are vast. I am looking forward to working with the team and exploring these new possibilities in the near future."

About Huzutech

Online communities, social networks and virtual worlds are changing the way in which people all over the world communicate, participate, collaborate and play. Stand alone communities are increasingly rare, as users share more information and cross-pollinate over a wide range of digital services across multiple devices, platforms and channels.

Huzutech understands how these new environments are evolving, growing and being used. The company has created a comprehensive technology - HuzuVirtual- which allows the creation of wholly-branded, white label online virtual worlds, which integrate seamlessly with all leading social networks.

HuzuVirtual enables brand owners, media companies and organisations to build an effective, branded online presence, tailored to their individual requirements, which encourages user participation across all new platforms, social networks and digital channels.

Founded in 2009 Huzutech is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, one of the world's leading regions for the development of original new interactive entertainment and digital media. The company was founded by a team of online veterans, who had worked with a number of pioneering companies, including WeeWorld, Pixel, and HarperCollins Publishers.

Huzutech is backed by MLC 50. In 2010 the company was fast-tracked by Scottish Enterprise as one of the country's most innovative new digital media companies, with truly global potential.

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